Giusti Organic Balsamic Vinegar “3 Gold Medals” is the organic interpretation of the collection’s famous and most versatile recipe: full-bodied, pleasantly sweet, and perfectly balanced – ideal for refining raw and cooked dishes, from savory to sweet. It is made exclusively from organic must of late-harvested, dried grapes and aged wine vinegar from certified organic vineyards.
Ingredients
Organic must from late-harvested and dried grapes, mature wine vinegar (contains sulfites).
maturation
The wine is matured in barrique barrels and refined with precious balsamic extracts from the antique barrel stock of the vinegar manufactory. giusti +1
Food recommendation
Excellent with homemade pasta and risotto, as well as with aged cheeses, white meat, roast beef, and roasts. It also makes a wonderful finishing touch with ice cream, yogurt, and fresh fruit or fruit salad.
Flavor notes & hints
Aromas of plum compote and red fruits combine with honey and vanilla notes to create a rich, seductively rounded flavor profile. Store at room temperature (even after opening); gluten-free and without animal ingredients, the only allergen is sulfites.
Medals and the meaning behind them
The "medals" at Giusti primarily represent a quality/style and maturity system within the Giusti heritage line: the more medals on the label, the higher the selection typically (including greater density/complexity, usually a higher must content, and/or longer/more elaborate barrel aging, depending on the recipe). Historically, the medals refer to awards that Giusti received at major (world) exhibitions in the 19th century; the ascending number of these medals is used today to classify the products within the collection.
Practically speaking, you can read it like this (simplified):
1 Silver Medal : Lighter texture, fragrant and pleasantly "sharp"/spicy, with intense aroma and pleasant acidity – very versatile for cold dressings and also for cooking.
2 gold medals : balanced, clear sweet-sour focus; aromatic with ripe fruits, licorice and pepper.
3 gold medals : fruitier and "rounder", noticeably softer/more pleasing to the palate.
4 gold medals : denser/creamier, more "syrupy" and longer lasting (e.g. honey notes).